Queens University Belfast granted funds for COVID-19 test with one hour turnaround

A new COVID-19 test being trialed in Belfast could dramatically change the turnaround time for results and could confirm if someone has the virus within one hour.

The test which is being developed in Queen’s University in Belfast has been awarded €930,000 by the EU H2020 fund to help make a highly accurate test for COVID-19.

The study is in partnership with Dublin-based HiberGene Diagnostics, which also has branches in Medcaptain in China and Italian hospital IRCCS Policlinico that have also been awarded this fund.

A new COVID-19 test being trialed in Belfast could dramatically change the turnaround time for results and could confirm if someone has the virus within one hour. Pic: Shutterstock

The hope is that the test will be able to show results within an hour.

This would be huge progress as it would allow clinicians to test patients on-site and would eliminate the need to send tests to a centralised laboratory.

Not only would this save time but it would also save money and resources and give worried patients a quick answer.

This would be huge progress as it would allow clinicians to test patients on-site and would eliminate the need to send tests to a centralised laboratory. Pic: Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images.

The lead researcher at Queen’s University, Prof Cliff Taggart, told Press Association: ‘The local availability, speed and accuracy of the test will help inform public health preparedness and response in the ongoing pandemic.’

Seamus Gorman, CEO of Hibergene, added: ‘Rapid diagnosis and reporting of results is the key to containing the COVID-19 disease and this test can play an important role in its diagnosis and control.’

Ireland previously saw a major back-log of COVID-19 results before the decision to outsource to German labs. Pic: Getty Images

According to HSE CEO Paul Reid, currently, around 1,000 samples are being tested daily with 60% of all laboratory tests being done in Ireland and the remaining in Germany.

According to HSE CEO Paul Reid, currently, around 1,000 samples are being tested daily with 60% of all laboratory tests being done in Ireland and the remaining in Germany. Pic: KIKO HUESCA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

There were 19 more COVID-19 deaths in the Republic of Ireland with 330 new cases, the HSE confirmed at its weekly briefing on Sunday.

This brings the total number of fatalities in the country as of Sunday to 1,303 and the total number of cases to 21,506.

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